Thomas County cat., 1887-03-17
THEIR ROMANCE.
The Wedding Journey of Jasper
and Dorothy.

and Dorothy.
dorothy, wife, it is almost over
the end of the journey is very near;
and, like the Psalmist of old, l am
ready to cry aloud: % spare me lit
tie, that may recover my strength,
before go hence and be no more
seem SO many years we have waited,
day after day, month after month, al
ways hoping, only to have disappoint-
ment greet us at every turn. And now,
now that you are my wife. can but
touch your hand and lie helplessly here
looking at you, knowing how in a few
short hours, even, that will go, add
though your arms hold me close, or
you kiss me ever so lovingly. l will not
feel it-that 1 am drawing step by step
nearer to the end of all things. Com
fort me, say something-it is the Bit
terest thing that has come to us yet.
Oh. love. my wasted, useless life! 1t
was never much at best, and yet am
10th to give it up"
AAuSiis HUSH. IL W. HCIthCl
wasted nor useless; it breaks my heart
to have you speak so. So. dear, am
close beside you-your very own, and
not another mans. The separation will
not be for long; only like one Of those
Journeys you have been used to take;
then you were bright and hopeful.
Don't YOU remember how we were al
ways planning. if YOU met with sue
cess you would send for me to come
out and be your wife, then together we
could 60 over all the rough, hard
places in life? Now it is only the same
old story, with this great difference,
that, finding the life beyond so restful
and full of peace after your struggles
and disappointments here, you will
stay. and l. your wife. your very own,
shall not have to wait long for the
summons. 1t will come quickly now,
and l shall follow fast upon your foot
steps. There is no more waiting, no
unrest can come to us; that is all gone
with the years that lie behind. Pleas
ant years you have made them for me,
Jasper, even though we could not have
our wish. For when you would be
away, or things grew tangled, and the
hunger of my heart became hard to
bear, then there would be letter. or
some sign or message from your heart,
and the whole world grew bright again,
and was young like when we first
met. Do You remember, dear, that
time SO long ago, when you first asked
me to wait for you and be your wife?"
''Do l remember, Dorothy? Oh, my
love! my love! can not leave you !!
My God. give me back my life only
for few short years"
yearning. which fills Dorothy's eyes
with tears, and chokes her voice so she
can only softly stroke the worn face
upon the pillow.
1t had come at last, the ending of the
poor little romance. After all these
years of weary. well-nigh hopeless
waiting. they had been married. Not,
as over and over again it had been plan
ned, in church, with the tones of the or
gan ringing in their ears the wedding
march. and familiar faces smiling back
at them from the pews; but up here. in
this quiet sick-room. where only two
short hours before the doctor had told
his patient how nearly his course was
run, and he. with dying mans rest
lesenesS, had wished to call Dorothy his
l,f 81,
out and was still.
1t is summertime out of doors. and
as the solemn words binding them
together are uttered. it is summer in
their hearts. with the warmth and glow
of its verieSt nOontide. At most, now,
few short hours lie between him and
death: SO they have gone away, those
others, leaving the husband and wife
alone. that in those last hours the dv-
ing bit OF romance may glow and
brighten. blossoming again us in the
gears gone by.
They are not young. not even mid
dte-aged. Time. in their hearts, has
stood still. as he ever does to those
who love. To each other they must
needs he always young. but to out
siders-to the children of the friends of
their south-they are quite an elderly
rOuple. People smiled when they
spoke of the engagement 1t was one
af taos. things OF such long standing it
seemed impossible for change to
some. Jasper was never over-strong.
Snd although willing enough to work.